Cohesity DataProtect Reviews

We needed a more powerful solution for ransomware and anomaly detection. We enforced it with strong technology, and our needs are based on such functionality.

It works well with backup virtual machines and SQL services we have been using.

We have two big clusters for 16 nodes for each one, and we are trying to develop the IPAM technology for a new cluster on a vault site where we can store a third copy of our data.

The software can improve upon reports because, nowadays, reports are easy to understand. We have a set of reports on Cohesity, but we wish to use them on-premises. We want a feature with a set of reports embedded with the software.

I would rate the solution an eight out of ten.

We have been using the solution since 2020, it has been three years now.

It is a stable solution. However, we had some hardware trouble because when nodes get broken, or the disc is not good, it becomes a problem for us.

It is a scalable solution. 

There are 10-15 users in the web user console, and the workload is about 1,000 databases and 1,000 digital machines. We use a yearly subscription model.

The workload is covered optimally. I don’t think we are going to increase the usage.

The tech support team is good. We only have international support, so the timetable is not easy for us, and we have to wait for the response from the support team.

The initial setup is not complex. It takes several months to install from zero because we have to define the logistical points to find space through all the network interfaces and technologies available, and it took us around four to five months.

Our deployment method was on-premises.

I would rate it an eight out of ten.

Most customers use the solution for file backups, particularly for NAS file sharing. They back up files from Microsoft Windows OS to ensure they can restore data when needed. They also perform periodic temporary restores to verify the functionality of their backups.

The platform is highly customizable and adapts well to changing conditions. The snapshot features are the most valuable because they allow rapid restoration and provide dedicated space for longer snapshot retention.

I would like security improvements, such as enhanced backup immutability and better tape storage connectivity. Reducing storage capacity requirements and improving security features are also areas that could be enhanced.

I have been working with Cohesity DataProtect for one year.

The solution is stable, with regular updates and patching. 

I rate the stability an eight. 

I rate the product's scalability as an eight.

The product's technical support is quite good. It is available 24/7 and has a high response rate, although it sometimes requires multiple communications to resolve issues fully.

Positive

The initial setup is relatively easy and involves configuration, integration with backup targets, and virtualization management. The deployment process usually takes about two weeks from the initial setup to installation, depending on the availability of hardware. It typically involves preparing the server, configuring it with either Linux or Windows, integrating it with the backup solution, connecting it to source storage, and managing the backup targets.

I rate the process a nine out of ten. 

Integrating the platform with the Acropolis Nutanix management solution is particularly valuable. It simplifies management by providing a unified interface for backup solutions.

Overall, I rate the solution a seven.

I'm a consultant, so my clients use it, and I assist them.

It is used as a backup solution.

It gives my clients an enterprise-wide solution for managing backups.

Standardization across the enterprise and ease of use are the most valuable features. 

There is room for improvement in terms of price. 

In future releases, I would like to see a more comprehensive cyber resilience capability.

I have experience from an architectural standpoint.

I would rate the stability a ten out of ten. 

I would rate the scalability an eight out of ten. 

I've used NetBackup and TSM.

It was already deployed when I started engaging with the client.

I would recommend using it. Overall, I would rate it a nine out of ten. 

We use Cohesity DataProtect for on-premises backups.

Cohesity DataProtect is the primary backup platform that we use for data recovery. The solution's SQL cloning is great, and its Instant Mount restoration of virtual machines is brilliant. Cohesity DataProtect's multi-factor authentication (MFA) is good. The solution's security and immutable snapshots are very good.

The solution's storage efficiency is very good. The data reduction techniques on the platform are very good.

I would like alerts if any local accounts on the platform are changed for security. If someone were to change an admin account password, I would like an alert raised for that, which is not available at the moment.

I have been using Cohesity DataProtect for three years.

The solution's stability is fine, and I haven't faced any downtime issues.

I rate the solution ten out of ten for stability.

Cohesity DataProtect is a scalable solution. Around three people access and use the solution in our organization.

The solution's initial setup is very simple. It takes less than a day to get it all configured and working.

We implemented the solution through an in-house team. A team consisting of five database engineers is needed to deploy the solution. The solution's deployment is very simple and involves setting up IP addresses, VLAN tagging, creating protection jobs, and creating replication.

We have a capacity license for the solution that we renew annually.

On a scale from one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate the solution's pricing a seven out of ten.

I would recommend Cohesity DataProtect for things like Oracle backups and SQL backups. I rate the solution ten out of ten for its effectiveness in managing backups across multiple environments or clouds.

We chose Cohesity DataProtect because its SQL Clones and SQL backups were very good. The solution's instant restoration of virtual machines is very quick. The solution's integration with Azure is very good, and it uses cloud block storage for long-term retention.

Overall, I rate Cohesity DataProtect a nine out of ten.

Cohesity DataProtect is a reliable solution for performing backups within a suitable timeframe, and its forever incremental model is particularly effective for the customer's needs. Additionally, the solution handles instant recovery and file-level recovery from a VMware image backup seamlessly.

The platform has certain limitations, mostly stemming from the restrictions imposed by the VMware API and some other factors. One area where there is room for improvement is the tracking of replicated copies, especially in the context of remote archive duplication.

Although there are certain interfaces and reports within the solution that provide detailed information about features like duplication to archive, they are not well-documented. In my experience, I have used some of these interfaces and reports in the past to gain additional insight. However, it would be helpful if these interfaces were properly documented and made readily available, instead of relying on support calls and breaking down URLs to access them. This would make it easier for users to leverage the full functionality of the solution.

I have been using Cohesity DataProtect for two and a half years.

Our primary use of Cohesity DataProtect is for backing up VMware, with some Microsoft Windows workloads also included. At present, our usage is limited to Microsoft Windows and VMware only.

Generally, the solution is stable.

I have observed some stability issues when scaling the Pure Storage solution, and one of our customers who used it experienced some problems. However, I believe these issues were due to the solution being relatively new and possibly oversold in an environment without adequate hardware to support it. Overall, these issues were rare and isolated, and I have not seen similar problems with other customers.

The solution scales well up to a certain point. When dealing with larger environments, it's crucial to exercise caution while distributing IO and managing the number of nodes in use. However, for small to mid-sized environments, it is perfectly scalable. In scenarios involving massive enterprises, it may be worth considering the Pure Storage solution or Cohesity DataProtect with a peer back end, rather than Cohesity DataProtect with their standard nodes.

I have had a positive experience with the tech support provided by the vendor. Their ability to access the system remotely and provide insights or fix issues has been particularly helpful. It is beneficial to be involved in the support process and to observe how they resolve issues, so I can replicate the solution in the future. Fortunately, the support team is usually willing to share their expertise and help me learn, which is greatly appreciated.

The initial setup of the solution is simple.

From my last assessment, the pricing for Cohesity DataProtect was reasonable. Compared to its closest competitor, Rubrik, I found Rubrik's pricing to be somewhat high-end. While Rubrik may have more advanced security features than Cohesity DataProtect currently, Cohesity DataProtect is releasing a new solution in the near future that will compete directly with Rubrik.

I have evaluated other solutions, such as Rubrik.

I have recommended the solution to multiple customers, and it has been well-received. While we do not currently use it internally, we have successfully recommended it to new customers who have implemented it based on our suggestion.

I would recommend that others give Cohesity DataProtect a try, provided that their environment can support it. It is important to note that like any other solution if it is deployed in a poorly designed environment, it may not perform well. However, in a well-architected environment, Cohesity DataProtect is a reliable and robust solution.

I rate Cohesity DataProtect an eight out of ten.

We are using Cohesity DataProtect for ensuring the safety of our entire system by creating backups. This includes backing up our virtual VMware environment, as well as some standalone servers that we use.

Cohesity DataProtect is user-friendly and straightforward. The setup process was effortless, and both the backup and restore operations are speedy.

When a new release is launched, there may be some bugs that need to be addressed by the developers. However, they promptly resolve these issues, and the software runs smoothly once again.

I have used Cohesity DataProtect within the past 12 months.

The solution has been stable overall. There has been some issue with updates causing issues but they are resolved quickly.

The solution is scalable, but it requires purchasing of hardware.

I rate the scalability of Cohesity DataProtect a seven out of ten.

I did not use the support from the vendor.

The initial setup required some assistance to complete. However, it was not a long drawn-out process.

I rate the initial setup of Cohesity DataProtect a seven out of ten.

We have one systems engineer for the maintenance of the solution.

It's important to obtain an accurate count of the number and size of servers that require backup. By gaining insight into potential future growth, you can correctly size your environment and prepare for the upcoming expansion. This way, you can avoid the need for additional investments in the future.

I rate Cohesity DataProtect an eight out of ten.

We basically have standard use cases such as backing up our virtual machines on VMware and restoring them if we need to.

The most valuable aspects of the solution include being able to select sources and set a schedule, set up a backup time, and be able to restore.

It's stable. 

I can't identify a specific area that needs improvement. 

They could always keep up with continuous interface refinements.

I've used the solution for almost a year.

The stability is good. I'd rate it nine out of ten. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's reliable. 

It's very scalable as a solution. I'd rate it nine out of ten.

We have five users on the solution.

I personally haven't dealt with technical support in the past, however, one of my colleagues has. My understanding is the experience was positive. We were able to close the ticket.

I wasn't too involved with the initial setup. Some other team members were.

The deployment took a few months. We had a team of four people in place to deploy the solution. One was a network engineer. The other one was a systems analyst. There were also a couple of network analysts.

I don't have any details about the pricing.

We evaluated a couple of other products. Rubrik was one of them, and obviously, we selected Cohesity.

I'd advise potential new users to just compare it to something else, and maybe you'll arrive at the same conclusion that we did - that it's a good product.

It's a good product. It integrates pretty tightly with our VMware infrastructure.

I'd rate it nine out of ten.

We are using it to back up virtual machines, VMware level, SQL server, Oracle Domain Controllers, Linux.

We're currently using hundred percent of it to back up 80% of our data.

It has absolutely improved our ROI. We moved from Microsoft DPM to Cohesity. Now, our incident tickets for backup have dropped by around a thousand per month.

DPM is a load of crap. It's horrible, absolutely horrible.

Its most valuable feature is its ransomware protection, so it has immutable backups.

In terms of what could be improved, it just needs some maturity. But, it gets better with every release.

I have been using Cohesity DataProtect for about a year.

We are using version 6.5.1E. We're about to go to 6.6.

It is on-prem today and it'll go to Azure public cloud soon.

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The stability is good.

The scalability is very good.

We probably have about 20 people using it and we have backup administrators and database administrators.

Main deployment and maintenance requires three people.

Their technical support team program is good.

We previously used Microsoft DPM and it is a horrendous solution. It's horrible. From from one to 10, I would give it a minus 10. It is that bad.

The initial setup was straightforward. Initial deployment took two months.

Our deployment strategy was to do it quickly as we can.

We did an initial POC, then a full POC, and then migrated everything as quick as we could.

We used TGS and they were good.

We saw ROI was after about nine months.

I believe we pay yearly. Additionally, there is the cost of the hardware. 

I also evaluated Rubrik and Commvault. The main difference between Cohesity, Rubrik and Commvault is price. It came down to price. Cohesity is more affordable.

My advice to anyone using Cohesity is to use vSphere tags.

On a scale of one to ten, I would give Cohesity DataProtect an eight and it's still maturing.

It will get better.

Our primary use case is for backup and DR. We have two clusters. One is all-flash. The other is a DR cluster with spinning disks. We use the all-flash to host shared storage, as well as a number of other services. We also use a number of other features such as SmartFiles. SmartFiles allows us to host all of our shared storage on the all-flash nodes, while keeping a DR ready copy on the DR cluster. This frees us from the constant management of a traditional Windows SMB environment and allows us to maximize up-time. 

The seamless backup and restore functionality has made file recovery and patch Tuesdays inconsequential. VM and SQL cloning in the test and dev feature sets allow us to immediately bring up backups both to test or for immediate availability (if needed). The VM can stand up within the Cohesity cluster and live vMotioned to our production VMware cluster. 

While other solutions might take hours to recover a VM, we can instantly bring one up and have our users back to work. The file recovery is equally simple, with the ability to clone entire SMB shares with a click.

Cohesity DataProtect is just one suite of features. Obviously, instant recovery and a live VM environment to bring up backups in would be the top feature set, however, there is so much more. 

ShareFiles allow for SMB shares to be stood up in minutes. Currently, we store our surveillance, user shares, department shares, and a number of other internal shares on SmartFiles. We even have a witness share for our SQL clustering. 

With instant DR failover using SiteContinuity, we are able to keep our files available no matter the situation.

DataProtect is a full-featured backup suite. Better support for legacy platforms would be nice, but we should be moving off those anyway. 

The marketplace app stability is still an issue at times. The company is very quick and hotfixes are released regularly. Their support is really fantastic, and I’ve only had one notable outage relating to an update. Ultimately it boiled down to a configuration error on my part, so I suppose I can’t blame them too much for that. 

Now that we have added additional nodes stability has been much better. 

I've been using the solution for two years.

With only one (self-inflicted) outage, I would say it is very stable. 

Adding nodes is trivial and can be scaled out to petabytes easily. 

I’ve had many experiences with Cohesity support. They clearly keep support a primary concern and I’ve never had a bad experience. Recently, I had to submit a P1 case, and I had two top-tier engineers on the phone within 10 minutes. 

Previously we used CommVault. We needed a more agile and robust solution. 

The setup is simple. We simply had to assign the interfaces an IP, set up our port aggregation, and create the cluster. 

We had Cohesity support come on-site to assist, however, we were there every step of the way. The Cohesity PS teams are very knowledgeable. 

Unfortunately, I am not privy to the business side of this decision, however, we've recovered from ransomware successfully without paying any ransom. Considering the organization wouldn’t exist any longer without Cohesity, I would say it was worth it. 

I would advise others to invest in their backup infrastructure. It is literally the most important solution you will purchase for business continuity. As a ransomware survivor, I cannot stress enough how valuable this solution is. 

We did evaluate other solutions and Rubrik was a major contender. Ultimately, Cohesity won out with a Cisco Hyperflex platform and superior support. 

We primarily use this product for backups, reporting, and auditing.  As we are a publicly listed company, we rely heavily on the reporting that comes out of Cohesity to ensure that we are compliant across all aspects.

The backup and restore solution is a big step forward from our last solution and packs more than just backup in a box, allowing for additional features such as Disaster Recovery and utilising the space available in the cluster for storing files.

The auditing and reporting features are as important as the backups themselves.

We moved over from another backup solution that wasn't as innovative, which made it an easy solution to move away from. Cohesity uses up less rack space in the datacentre and allows for more than just backups, paving the way for more hyper-converged solutions, not just physically.

The initial contract with Cohesity is an improvement in terms of pricing above our previous solution but it remains to be seen what will happen after the contract comes to an end. The fundamental tasks of backups are restores are ahead of its game, relative to our previous solution.

The backup and restore feature is the most valuable.

Instant recovery options are a big benefit for urgent restores, as we don't need to wait for hours or days for a restore to complete before being able to access the files.

The restore to the appliance itself allows for faster (instant) access that saves us from waiting for the restores to happen to the datastores/volume/containers, which can take upwards of weeks in our case if we were to restore the larger VM guests.

We have seen many iterations of this such as restoring to the cloud but the outcome has always been a hit-and-miss solution.

The canned reporting could be improved. Many of the reports are basic, at most, and at times we had to open a support ticket to help find or develop a report for our needs. This is something that even our last solution had in place already.

Error reporting could also be improved. Rather than 'errorcode -2', it needs to be more descriptive or at least, provide KB articles related to the error or problem. This would save time in creating a ticket and try to describe to the support engineer what happened to cause an 'errorcode -2' that most of the time, we don't know either.

We have been using Cohesity DataProtect for seven months.

Stability-wise, so far so good.

The initial implementation requires a lot of babysitting and reporting on issues is a bit lacking. Hopefully, you've purchased a good support contract to help with those teething issues.

The solution is very scalable. It doesn't require a replacement appliance to expand for more capacity. Simply purchase another block/node and it's done.

My experience with support is mixed. There are times where the response and resolution are quick but at times, there are large gaps in the response. I'm not sure whether this is timezone-related. 

We switched over, as the previous solution was very lacking behind in innovation. It was missing basic features such as finding VMs and we were told to simply use "ctrl+f" to find them. However, this didn't help if the screen spanned across multiple pages.

The initial setup was straightforward, as we engaged with the company to help with the deployment. As long as the provided templates are completed and networking is done properly, it should be a smooth ride.

Our deployment was completed by a mix of both. The vendor team was very qualified and personnel was made available at each region to assist the local teams with implementation.

This is difficult to measure and quantify but the time saved across the regions baby-sitting the previous solution would be about eight hours per week.

My advice is to always negotiate for better pricing.

A contract with any backup vendor will always be a long-term deal, so think ahead and force them to sharpen their pencils. Never sign up without evaluating the price of other vendors over a three to a five-year term.

We evaluated Rubrik, Veeam, Nutanix Mine, Barracuda Backup, and Commvault.

Although the NPS score was rated highly, this should not be the only factor to consider.  There may be other factors involved that affect this score and as mentioned, backup solutions are a long-term deal. Not many companies will be willing to jump ship, risking their backups that are kept on proprietary platforms.